A guest editorial blog contributed by Jessica Miller.
Planning a wedding is undoubtedly exciting, but it can also be incredibly stressful. With multiple vendors to liaise with, a bridal party to organize and a strict budget to contend with, engaged couples have a lot on their minds and have to juggle it alongside their usual work and personal life pressures. In fact, as many as 72% of couples find the wedding planning process “very” or “extremely” stressful. Is it possible to plan your dream wedding without enduring an overload of worry? Here are three helpful tips to keep wedding planning stress at bay.
1. Prioritize the essentials
When planning a wedding, we tend to get caught up in unimportant elements, such as flower arrangements, favors, invites, guestbooks and color schemes because we believe these details will help to make our day unique and memorable. While the little elements do play a role in bringing the event together, it’s important to recognize when they’re causing more stress or expense than they are truly worth. It’s important to prioritize the most essential elements of the wedding in the early planning stages. For most couples, the venue, food and drink, and accommodation take absolute priority, with the photographer, entertainment and clothing coming soon after. If you find yourself getting overwhelmed by picking out the perfect bridal bouquet, remind yourself of your priorities and focus on choosing a practical, affordable option simply to tick the task off your list.
2. Schedule Time Off from Planning
Planning a wedding can often feel like a full-time job given how many hours couples put into the process. Just like any job, it’s important to take breaks to refresh your mind and prevent burnout. It’s also important for couples to spend quality time together that doesn’t involve poring over budgets and spreadsheets. Set aside regular downtime where you agree not to have any wedding planning talk. This could be daily, weekly or monthly, but make sure you plan fun or relaxing activities to take your minds off the stress and reconnect with each other.
3. Hire a Wedding Planner
A brilliant way to alleviate wedding planning stress is to hand over the bulk of the work to a dedicated wedding planner. Simply describe your dream wedding to them and let them bring it to life. You can expect to have full reign of final decisions while letting go of the time-consuming process of researching, booking and liaising with venues and vendors. Plus, you have a knowledgeable expert on hand to give you valuable advice on how to create a day to remember. The average cost of a wedding planner is $1,500, with most couples spending between $1,000 and $2,500. If you have a busy lifestyle and are wondering how you’ll find the time to plan your wedding, or you’re simply not enthused about the prospect of all that organization, a wedding planner is a fantastic investment.
Focus on the Excitement for your Big Day
Planning any big event can lead to stress, but keep in mind that this is your wedding day and the buildup to it should be a happy, exciting time. Whenever you find stress taking hold, remind yourself of the bigger picture and refocus on what matters most – the love between you and your soon-to-be spouse.
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